Celebrating Love: The Joy of Modern Weddings

Weddings: A Joyful Celebration of Love

Weddings celebrate love and bring joy. Whether it’s an elopement, a small and intimate ceremony with close friends and family, festival vibes in a field of fun, or a grand affair in a manor home, the joy of a wedding is unmatched.

The beautiful Merriscourt in Chipping Norton - Photograph by Hayley Elizabeth

The Evolution of Weddings

For generations, couples have marked their unions with religious ceremonies or registry office arrangements. Celebrations often took place in village halls, pubs, or family gardens. This traditional approach worked for many, but times have changed.

Today, couples choose venues that reflect their personal style and fit within their budget. Instead of merely looking for nearby locations, many are willing to travel for destination weddings. This shift aims to create truly meaningful and memorable celebrations.

Scenery at Kislingbury Sunnies and Spooks - Photograph by Emma DB Photography

The Wedding Planning Process

Once a venue is booked, the happy couple set into motion ideas they believe will make the day uniquely theirs. Some choose to appoint wedding planners to help organise their dreams, and wedding stylists to deliver their vision.

Colour schemes are chosen and invitations are designed and distributed. Bands and DJ's are booked to provide the entertainment and photographers and videographers are appointed to document the big day.

The cake will likely be a piece of architectural beauty that far outshines the frilly white rectangles of the 80’s and 90’s. Floral arrangements are chosen to adorn the venue whilst boutonnieres and bouquets are picked for the wedding party.

Wedding favours, which take the form of miniature champagne bottles filled with bubbles, sugared almonds, bottle openers and seed packets are sourced and spread out across the plate settings. Countless hours are spent painstakingly decorating DIY centre pieces (speaking from experience).

But what about the reason for the ripples of excitement which spread far and wide and inspire the selection of outfits and accommodation that are planned months in advance? The entire reason for the day? What about the ceremony?

Merriscourt in Chipping Norton - Styled by Kate Marie Event Styling - Photograph by Hayley Elizabeth - Florals by Victoria Wright - Signage by Atria UK - Cake by The Pretty Cake Company

Rethinking Wedding Ceremonies

Too often I hear the ceremony referred to as ‘the boring bit’. The part everyone wants to be over and done with so they can get on with the party.

Maybe it has this reputation because historically, most ceremonies are faith or registrar led. They typically follow the same, predictable, format. A stranger with no prior connection to the couple officiates the service and signs the legalities. There’s no story or set up, vows containing the same generic words (chosen from a prescribed list) are spoken, and often quickly forgotten because they’re not personal enough.

It doesn’t have to be that way

Modern independent celebrants like myself are able to ensure your ceremony is anything but boring.

Personal vows, symbolic elements, group participation and surprise ring bearers are just some of the ways to weave magic into your ceremony.

It’s true, we can’t legalise the marriage (yet!) and the legality boxes do need to be ticked but you can do this with minimal costs at a registry office before or after your ceremony.

With the legal aspects sorted, you get the best of both worlds: a legal marriage and all the enhanced options that make for an unforgettable signature ceremony.

Ever wanted to exchange personal, meaningful vows in a forest, under the stars, on a beach or in a family garden? Without the need for a licensed venue, a celebrant led ceremony is how! (Side note - celebrants can conduct ceremonies at licenced venues!)

Scenery at Kislingbury Sunnies and Spooks - Photograph by Emma DB Photography

The Cost of Weddings

Weddings can be a costly endeavour. All to often hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds are spent on trinkets that (in my opinion) don't truly add to the magic of your day. At the top of my list is those well intended wedding favours. By the time the evening is over they are spent, wasted or forgotten.

By choosing to invest in your ceremony, guests will leave basking in the celebration of your story so far, in witnessing the promises made to each other and the authenticity of the day. Their memories of meaningful moments will be treasured and shared as something truly unique.

Those wedding favours will be long forgotten, but the enduring memories of a signature ceremony will live on as something far from boring!

Scenery at Kislingbury Sunnies and Spooks - Photograph by Emma DB Photography